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How to …

© BBC Learning English 2007

Extending a conversation

Page 1 of 5

bbclearningenglish.com

Yvonne:

Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer and this is "How to…" from

bbclearningenglish.com where we feature some of the most useful everyday

English.

When a group of friends speak different languages, but speak in English when

they're together, sometimes, the conversation simply doesn't flow and it comes

to a stop. But it is possible to extend a conversation even with a limited

vocabulary and have some fun.

TEASER

If you breathe in really sharply (demo) like that, that shows that you're really surprised or

you're really shocked at what you've been told.

Yvonne:

Native speakers make use of linking words as well as various sounds to keep a

conversation going and to show interest in what someone is saying. And these

sounds can certainly help to keep a conversation lively! Here's how Carrie and

I extended our conversation just as it seemed to be ending. We were sharing

some office gossip – so the topic wasn't important or official and was very

informal. You'll notice that we used very few words and 'ooh' and 'ummmmm'

sounds are just as important. What do you think those sounds tell us?

INSERT 1

CARRIE: Well, you see, it pays to be in the office sometimes.

YVONNE: Ooh, ooh, ooh,

CARRIE: Yes, yes, yes

YVONNE: I've got a bit of gossip for you

How to …

© BBC Learning English 2007

Extending a conversation

Page 2 of 5

bbclearningenglish.com

CARRIE: Go on, go on, go on…

YVONNE: Guess who's seeing who?

CARRIE: In the office?

YVONNE: In the office.

CARRIE: Ummmmm – give us a clue…

Yvonne:

'Ooh' sounds can be used to show that you've just remembered something

really exciting and worth talking about…

INSERT 2

CARRIE: Well, you see, it pays to be in the office sometimes.

YVONNE: Ooh, ooh, ooh,

Yvonne:

The 'ummm' sound that Carrie used indicated that she was taking some time to

think of an answer to my question...

INSERT 3

CARRIE: Ummmmm – give us a clue…

Yvonne:

So we've heard two small sounds which made our conversation fun and

exciting – and helped us extend it. Here's another chance to hear that

conversation about two people in our office. This time, listen out for how

many times I say 'ooh', and how many times Carrie says the word 'yes' and the

short phrase 'go on'...

RPT INSERT 1

CARRIE: Well, you see, it pays to be in the office sometimes.

YVONNE: Ooh, ooh, ooh,

CARRIE: Yes, yes, yes

YVONNE: I've got a bit of gossip for you

How to …

© BBC Learning English 2007

Extending a conversation

Page 3 of 5

bbclearningenglish.com

CARRIE: Go on, go on, go on…

YVONNE: Guess who's seeing who?

CARRIE: In the office?

YVONNE: In the office.

CARRIE: Ummmmm – give us a clue…

Yvonne:

I said 'ooh' three times and very quickly – 'ohh, ooh, ooh' and Carrie did the

same with 'yes' and 'go on' to encourage me to carry on talking. So three is a

good number!

You're listening to "How to…" from bbclearningenglish.com and we're

looking at ways to extend a conversation and make it more interesting by using

various sounds.

As our conversation continued, I let Carrie know that I couldn't tell her the

names of the people we were talking about. That was a secret. But listen to the

sound she made to show her frustration – to indicate that she wasn't pleased:

INSERT 4

CARRIE:

Who is it?

YVONNE:

I can't say.

CARRIE:

Oh you….Arrrrgh!

YVONNE:

I've been sworn to secrecy.

CARRIE:

You can't tell me half a story and not tell me who's getting engaged or going

out.

YVONNE:

Calm down, calm down.

CARRIE:

Argh! Ummm - can I guess?

YVONNE:

I'm just making you aware of the situation…

How to …

© BBC Learning English 2007

Extending a conversation

Page 4 of 5

bbclearningenglish.com

Yvonne:

Carrie said 'Arrrgh' when she first realised that I wasn’t going to tell her what

she wanted to know.

INSERT 5

CARRIE:

Arrrrgh!

YVONNE:

I've been sworn to secrecy….

Yvonne:

And then she made a shorter, softer version of the same sound to show that she

was still frustrated but again said 'ummm' because this time, she was thinking

of a way to get those names from me…

INSERT 6

CARRIE:

Argh! Ummm - can I guess?

YVONNE:

I'm just making you aware of the situation…

Yvonne:

Well, I kept my secret and Carrie is still trying to guess who the people are!

At first, those types of sounds we've heard might feel strange to use. But you

probably already use them when speaking in your own language, so why not

have some fun and try a few out when you're next having a conversation in

English? Use them to show your interest, to help make the conversation

exciting, and to encourage someone to continue with the conversation.

Now it's worth mentioning gestures and facial expressions, even though we

can't see them here! Here are some that the team at BBC Learning English

sometimes use to extend a conversation:

How to …

© BBC Learning English 2007

Extending a conversation

Page 5 of 5

bbclearningenglish.com

INSERT 7

If you shake your head slowly, as if you're saying 'no' when somebody is telling you

something sad, that makes it look as though you're sympathetic…

If you smile from time to time, that can be encouraging…

Don't smile too often because the person you're listening to might wonder whether you

actually understand what they're saying.

Yvonne:

Now, have fun listening out for some more of those sounds when you're at the

shops, when you're on a bus – in fact, anywhere where people are speaking

English. And look out for some of those gestures. I'm sure you'll have fun

trying them out!